This compote is wonderful served cold with grilled artichokes, but it is equally good just heated through and spooned over steamed fish or grilled bread.

recipe

An authentic Louisiana gumbo almost always begins with a flour-and-fat roux to thicken the stew while adding an earth-and-smoke undercurrent. Browning the flour dry, scattered and stirred in a pan, achieves virtually the same effect -- without all the calories.Just one link of andouille sausage gives the dish heaps of flavor, and okra slices bring on a velvety texture.